Derasha 2 on Vayikra 1:9

Parashas Vayikra · Aliyah 1 · Passuk 9 · Unit 2 of 8

The Complete Passuk

וְקִרְבּ֥וֹ וּכְרָעָ֖יו יִרְחַ֣ץ בַּמָּ֑יִם וְהִקְטִ֨יר הַכֹּהֵ֤ן אֶת־הַכֹּל֙ הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חָה עֹלָ֛ה אִשֵּׁ֥ה רֵֽיחַ־נִיחֹ֖חַ לַיהֹוָֽה׃

Chabad.org — English translation + Rashi

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Toras Kohanim (Sifra), Vayikra Dibbura DeNedavah, on 1:9 (ba-mayim — any amount).

Sefaria — Sifra / Toras Kohanim, Vayikra Dibbura DeNedavah

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Toras Kohanim (Sifra), on 1:9
״יִרְחַץ בַּמָּיִם״ — בַּמַּיִם אֲפִלּוּ כָּל שֶׁהוּא.

English: “He shall wash with water” — with water, even any amount.

In Sifra: No fixed volume is attached to this washing. Unlike full-body immersion (forty se’ah), a minimal amount of water satisfies the verse’s requirement for innards and legs.

Type of Learning

Absence of a fixed measure for this washing — even any amount of water.

What Is Learned

Unlike full-body immersion (forty se’ah), washing the innards and legs of the olah has no fixed volume of water. “With water” is satisfied by any amount that performs the wash.